Two policemen killed in Astrakhan by group of radical Wahhabi Islamists – governor

Astrakhan, April 4, Interfax - An active search is under way in Russia's Astrakhan Region for those who shot and killed two police officers overnight into Tuesday, Astrakhan Region Governor Alexander Zhilkin said.

"A group of radical Wahhabi Islamists perpetrated a brazen attack on traffic police officers after effectively provoking a road accident overnight. The assailants opened fire at them with firearms and fled. Unfortunately, two traffic police officers died of wounds on the spot," Zhilkin was quoted as saying by his press service.

Security services are actively searching for the suspected attackers, he said.

"Alexander Zhilkin also asked residents of the Astrakhan Region to be vigilant, help the police find the criminals, report any information related to this crime and refrain from taking any steps on their own to try to detain the criminals because they are armed and dangerous," the press service said.